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 Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 3:21 pm
Just as David finished drying off his short black hair as best as he could, he grabbed another towel from a nearby stack and bent low to meet Cruz and Tango. Nina checked her watch before patting the stack of clothes she had brought David, saying, "Hey, why don't you take a break David? I've got some time before the afternoon event needs taking down and you were our little pack mule this morning. Go hang out with your friends. Oh! By the way, I couldn't find you any shorts but here's two shirts - I wasn't sure which was your size, fatty."
She laughed before turning again to Anita, winking this time, "My name's Nina, by the way, Miss! If this hound dog gives you any problems, just find any volunteer and have them contact me. I'll make sure he gets put in the doghouse, okay?"
David rolled his eyes at his boss's ridiculous jokes, though considered her words. After a moment, David leaned forward to flash a smile at Tango and then turned back to raise a brow in Nina's direction, "You sure it'd be okay for me to take a break? I'm not going to get hazed or something later for this?"
Nina scoffed as she waved her hand and started refilling the kiddie pool back with fresh water, "Hazed? Jeez you're making our clinic sound like a frat house! Nah, just go go go. I mean, I'd feel more comfortable having you roam around, keeping an eye on things for me, than I would keeping you here. You couldn't even wash one dog, David. Tsk, nothing more than a pretty face." The woman let out a hearty laugh as she tied her auburn hair into a high ponytail, prepping to wash the next dog. The eldest Nao frowned before sighing, "Yeah yeah. Okay then, lemme just finish these guys up and I'll be out of your way."
David then turned his attention back to Tango, smiling now, "Sorry about that buddy. I got it from here Cruz, if you wanna finish drying off."
David fluffed Tango's thick fur playfully, planting an affectionate kiss on his forehead, in the spot where Cruz had just raspberried before laughing softly. It was a nice afternoon and though the water war was unfortunate, it did feel nice, if only for a moment. Looking around as he dried Tango off, David then had a thought.
"Hey Anita, Cruz, would it be okay for me to treat you guys today? I know the schedule of most events by heart and I mean, I would like to sincerely apologize for getting you wet. I know that's not how you probably wanted to start this afternoon," David spoke genuinely, in a tender tone he usually reserved for animals or family. It was a bit odd, even for the man himself, to hear the words roll out so smoothly but, glancing Anita over, David didn't feel like he had to play up his masculinity or charm around the Bishops. ...As if doing so did much anyways.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2014 6:44 pm
Their exchange left Anita laughing under her breath while she sorted her hair out. She smoothed her bangs down, one side damp and the other perfectly dry, one long braid soaked through but no more messy than it had been. Anita's hair had gotten a lot longer since the time she and David had last seen each other, and even longer since they first met. Originally her double braids landed just under her shoulder blades in the back, and ended at her ribs two Halloweens ago, but now they hung just above her hips.
"Anita," she smiled and nodded to Nina, "Think we got it covered, thank you." As much as his supervisor was denying it, and how outwardly playful she was being, Anita was picking up more on David's apparent dislike of it than any sort of amusement, so she wanted to keep things brief.
Cruz smiled and detached easily from Tango at David's request. "I like the water," he assured, asserting no need to dry off. No, he would do so naturally. In fact, he hadn't even tried to bother and continued to drip where he floated.
Tango seemed fine continuing the bath, if it could still be called that, just in the grass. He panted excitedly and glanced around, occasionally offering a soft whine to his breath as he watched other dogs run past. David's offer, as well as the way he presented it, came as a surprise to Anita but Cruz only saw it as an opportunity. He honed in on David's words, his expression, body language; he was being genuine and looking exclusively at Anita while doing so.
"Oh, hey, it's just water. You don't have to do tha--"
"Yes, thank you."
Anita turned to stare at Cruz incredulously. The croc beamed at David, seemingly nonethewiser. The interruption was rude but it would be ruder, now, to back out of it. Anita side eyed her charge for just a moment, then pulled an apologetic smile onto her face and nodded to David. "I-I mean, that's really nice of you, we'd appreciate it. Just-- please don't feel obligated, really, it is only water and we're balls deep in Spring heat." To prove her point, Anita tossed her wet braid loosely around her neck and over her shoulders as if it were a scarf.
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 6:40 pm
Just as the man gave Tango a final patting down, David shook his head in harmony with the shimmying of the towel, "It's fine. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to get to know someone who's friends with Namini."
David's lips curled into a lopsided smirk, his eyes now directed at the mistletoe soul beside him, "Or Prajna for that matter. If anything, it's probably in my best interest to try getting a little closer to you guys. Lord only knows what kind of mischief Prajna's capable of by itself." David had to admit: he couldn't remember where he had last ran into Cruz and under what circumstances but something about the Frei's toothy grin and easy going demeanor reminded the man of an affectionate pup, ready and rearing to please its master. The Raevan just seemed so...easy going. For a moment, David had to wonder what had led Cruz to be so close with Prajna, a tumultuous redhead obsessed with using its androgyny to manipulate others. David couldn't seem to fathom as why anyone as calm and perky as Cruz would be so enamored with a troublemaker like Prajna...
Despite these thoughts, the eldest Nao returned to the moment at hand, still smiling.
"Anyways, there you go, Tango! I'll just give him a quick brushing before I show you guys around, okay?" the man's voice was refreshingly casual and notably lacking in its usual forwardness. Maybe it was because the Nao was in his second area of expertise and interest, animals, or maybe it was because of the gorgeous weather. However, whether it was being surrounded by such happy and affectionate pets, some owned by stunning, pampering owners at that, or whether it was because summer was the man's favorite season, David couldn't find any reason to be his normally bitter or scowling self, even if he wanted to. Rummaging through a nearby box and retrieving a thick comb, David then returned to Tango's side for the canine's last touch ups, a tender but neutral expression softening into every detail of the man's face.
"Allllmost done," David murmured into Tango's ear, noting the dog's building excitement at the passing crowds. He could tell by the thumping of Tango's long tail that the dog was rearing to be a part of the action! "There!"
With a final brush, David took a step back to admire his work before switching out the brush with one of the shirts Nina had left for him. Slipping the shirt over his still damp hair, David was surprised the first draw fit. He noted the size: Large. Sighing, the man flipped the tag back inwards and then turned the hose on to give his hands a final rinse. As he did so, his storm-colored eyes darted between Anita and Cruz, almost in time with Tango's wagging tail, "So... what do you guys want to do first? Eat? See a show? Check out some merchandise stands?"
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2014 11:33 am
Anita could only shrug and smile. She appreciated the sentiment but she wasn't sure just what she considered herself and Namini. They were certainly on friendly terms but they weren't close and they hardly ever spoke, would it have been more accurate to say they were acquaintances? Anita might not have put much thought past it prior to the episode in the jungle, where the concept of Lab 305 as a "family" was utterly shaken for her, but she knew that Namini was a nice girl and meant well. She certainly wouldn't mind being friends with the younger Nao, or David.
She quirked her brow at David's description of Prajna. Anita certainly hadn't been exposed to the starry frei much, far less than Cruz despite how quickly the croc had taken to them, but those sparse moments painted a different picture. She glanced at Cruz. He seemed about as confused by the allegation that Prajna was some how a troublemaker. Maybe things had changed since they last interacted -- or maybe Cruz never broke past the surface.
As David was finishing up with Tango, the wolfdog shook off several times. The brushing helped smooth out his fur even as it continued to spike out and spray. He still panted excitedly and occasionally stammered with all of the movement and different smells around him, but for all of it he was surprisingly well behaved.
"Alright, there," Anita chuckled and gave the dog a soft pat above his tail, "Good boy. Thanks for the wash, man, he really needed it. He's a stinky garbage factory, yes."
Cruz giggled. In a few moments, Tango's collar, leash, and bandanna were reapplied and back in Cruz's hands.
"Hmm, that all sounds neat, what kind of shows--"
"Ah--" Cruz hovered forward, clutching his mostly full water bottle to his chest, "Are there cups? 'Nita, Tango should have some." he lifted the bottle.
"Oh! Yeah. Um-- okay, yeah, hold on, I'm gonna go get one," Anita waved a quick hand to the three boys and jogged over to what appeared to be the nearest food stand.
Once she was out of earshot, Cruz's fingers dug anxiously against the plastic. He turned to David and floated just a bit closer, his ribbon brushing against Tango's side. "David," he sounded almost grave with his voice lowered and rumbling, but his expression held childlike wonder and his eyes pleaded, "Did you mean it? You can check 'Nita's lips for kisses?"
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2014 4:49 pm
There it was. As Cruz shifted over like a crocodile curiously moving its head to get a better eye on its stunned and suddenly suspicious-but-not-sure-why prey, David took a swig of his own water bottle, his eyes never leaving the Frei's. There it was, the look that David knew was a confirmation of Cruz's friendship with Prajna. While David seemed to mistake Cruz's sudden change in demeanor for a mischief making purpose more akin to Prajna's temperament, the man couldn't help but admit he was at least intrigued. Cruz didn't quite seem to have the unpredictable hotheadedness of Prajna and his motives didn't seem entirely sinister either, which led David to ask, "Maybe. Why?"
For a moment, David's own immaturity stirred. Perhaps it was a Nao family trait, this need for flirting with the unknown, this hunger for lighthearted mischief. In that moment, the man's steely eyes flickered over to Anita's distant figure. Was something really wrong with Anita's lips? The Chinese American couldn't imagine Anita never having been kissed before; sure she didn't seem like the typical fox David was accustomed with entertaining, but the man was certain it wasn't very hard for the brunette to snag a more laidback fellow. Anita looked to be the cute kind of girl who did well at low key bars with pool tables and at indie concerts, things David wished he had more time to enjoy. Money was money however, and the man simply didn't have time for those simple pleasures lately. Letting out a softened sigh, David continued in his interrogation of the playful Frei, "I mean, I've already seen her in her bra."
The man recalled the elevator incident with a bit of a cringe. Never again...
"I mean... is Anita the type to hit me for a kiss?" Yes. That seemed the more prevalent question. "... And what's in it for you?"
David's eyes returned to Cruz, his brow raised.
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 9:53 am
Maybe. The croc's eyes lit up. It wasn't a definite, but it was better than no. Better than it just being a joke, like Anita took it. Why? His shoulders slumped. That was a first. What exactly was the question a 'why' to? Why did he ask? Why was he worried about Anita's lips? Why should he kiss her? Cruz frowned; he didn't know how to answer it and, before he could even try, David's thoughts moved elsewhere.
What did seeing her in her underwear have to do with kissing?
He'd seen it, too, though that was an accident. Anita had been very red after and she closed the door quickly. It was probably the same for David, though Cruz couldn't put his finger on where that could have happened.
"Hit?" he repeated, tapping one of his own cheeks lightly for confirmation. He'd never seen Anita hit anyone. Walls sometimes. Inanimate objects. Nobody living, breathing. Cruz shook his head. She wouldn't do that.
David's final question surprised the frei yet again but it was the one he was quickest on the draw for. Anita was nearly at the counter to retrieve the cup and they were running out of time. He locked eyes with David, lips parted to flash his teeth non-threateningly, and shrugged.
"Want her happy. Never seen 'Nita kiss anyone. Kisses are good, she should have a good thing." That was as simply as he could put it. Anita had claimed the plastic cup from the booth and was on her way back.
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Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 3:06 pm
David couldn't help but smile tenderly at Cruz's answer. So innocent and kindhearted. David felt like he had just asked a child what they wanted for Christmas, the crocodile Frei seemed so expressive. "Yeah, I guess kisses are nice," David murmured as he noted Anita quickly returning.
Quietly, David's cheeks turned red for a moment as he suddenly fixed his eyes on some distant tree, far beyond the group. He whispered to Cruz, a boyishness overcoming him as he tried to smirk coolly, "Has Anita said she wanted me to kiss her?"
If she did, David couldn't help but feel a bit flattered. Though he was used to whispering sweet nothings into fancier women, gals glitzed up in all kinds of diamonds and silk, the idea of a sweeter, simpler girl like Anita having a puppy-dog crush on him really excited him for some reason. A darker part of his subconscious was ignored as it brought into question the genuine nature of his flattery: was he amused because Anita wasn't the usual kind of girl he pursued or was in the close company of? or did the idea of kissing her honestly excited the man?...
David let out a nervous cough as Anita came closer.
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Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 9:27 pm
He guessed?
Cruz fidgeted. Tango paced leisurely beneath his ribbon, around David's legs. The frei had to lead him back around without tying the man up but it was easy enough. The mutt was cooperative despite his excitement.
He glanced back to check Anita's progress as David whispered. She was halfway back and Cruz stared, bewildered, at the question.
No. She'd never mentioned it. Actually, he could scarcely recall David being mentioned ever, but that wasn't a personal sleight against him. Anita didn't tend to talk about people or things that weren't immediately relevant and those tended to lean towards topics which were pertinent to him, not herself. Cruz managed a wide eyed shrug before Anita settled back with them.
"What were we talking about?" she asked as she knelt in the grass to pour half of her own water bottle into the plastic cup. With a few quick clicks of her tongue, Tango trotted over and eagerly lapped up the water.
"Things to do," interjected Cruz, with calm determination. Quietly, he prayed David understood that this was a secret matter. The man did whisper to him, after all.
"Oh, right. I am getting kind of hungry... What kind of shows? I figure we can hit the merch on our way out. Might as well get the major festivities out of the way now that the bath's done." Anita smiled up at both of the boys and gave Tango's rear a soft pat.
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 9:36 pm
Upon Anita's return, David noted Cruz's shift in gaze but kept quiet, not for Cruz's demeanor, but for the simple reason that: no man wants to get caught gossiping like a schoolgirl about well... girls. Unless it was in open flirtations or playfulness, David was not about to admit, "Oh. Yes. Anita. We were just discussing your supposed inability to kiss? Cruz here wants me to test out your defined lips, check their softness and kissing abilities and whatnot." Just the thought made the eldest Nao want to gag a little and so, David quickly continued with Cruz's act.
"Yes, things to do. Well, there's the dog show at noon. Nina's helping out with that. I think it's like a frisbee demonstration and some agility tricks. Hmmm, I think there's some games, where you throw a toy assigned to you and your dog and whoever's dog retrieves it first wins a small prize...but..."
David's lips curled into a tender smile as he placed a brotherly hand on Anita's head and ruffled her hair. ... Before poking her tummy and jumping out to the side, in case Anita did decide he had crossed that line of physicality!
"We can get you guys something to eat first. They have some hot dogs and pretzels, popcorn and ice cream. Is there something particular you want?" David asked. Then he let out an odd laugh, as if torn between embarrassment and cockiness, "Something other than me, I mean."
Was that too corny?
David felt like he was slowly losing it...
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:37 am
"Oh, that sounds neat," Anita mumbled while David listed things off, particularly about the frisbee demonstration.
Tango was just finishing up his water, though he still had half the cup to go. The dog licked his chops while his chin dribbled and he resumed panting and gazing out at the dog filled park. There were so many puppies.
Anita hardly noticed David's change in demeanor as he trailed off. Beside them, Cruz took the water bottle and Tango's cup from her hands so she could adjust his leash. The frei's brows quirked at the sudden physical gesture, head tilted. That wasn't something he had seen anyone do to Anita before. Her immediate reaction was to stiffen, looking bewildered at David through her fluffy bangs that were now even more askew. The poke to her tummy was what did him in, but the man was quick to dodge the coming smack to his hand so all she hit was air.
Cruz grimaced.
She was quick to smooth her hair back into place. Her own expression was torn between confusion and discomfort. "Yeah, that's--" god, he was laying it on thick, "--fine."
The croc stared at the back of David's head desperately. How well did he and Anita really know each other? This behavior from anyone toward her seemed highly unusual, and it was clear to the raevan that Anita wasn't exactly enjoying that brand of attention. Did he know how Anita worked at all or was he just guessing?
"Um," Anita cleared her throat, attempting to move past the sudden awkwardness in the air from both of them, "Hot dog, I think. Get some actual food and then maybe popcorn and ice cream."
When Anita turned and began taking Tango toward the nearest food shack, Cruz hung back a moment to catch David's eye and stare in bewilderment. His expression spoke volumes where words couldn't: what are you doing?
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:24 pm
"Hot dogs it is then," David affirmed. But as the messy haired brunette led the way, Tango swerving in and out of the crowds a bit as his nose led him about, David turned to Cruz. The two males locked eyes for a moment and the Chinese-American could swear the emerald Frei was giving him the disappointed look of a mother. The redness that had risen into the Nao's cheeks during his last embarrassing pickup line now firmly settled into his pores as he quickly narrowed his gaze like a child. His expression could only be read as the teenage-ish "What?"
Even when he looked away from the Raevan, due to David's short haircut, one could still see the man's ears were turning an uncommon shade of pink. He couldn't pinpoint what it was about the scaly Frei but Cruz had a way of putting the man on edge. Something in the crocodile's eyes glistened with the same kind of mischief-making love Prajna had. Putting notions of kissing Anita and giving her "good things." The Nao could only wonder if Cruz would ever look back on his words and realize how easily out of context they could have been taken.Kisses aren't always...innocent, David thought, Even if they're still "good things."
As the party approached the closest food stand, like a dog distracted in the middle of play with a bone, the man's thoughts were quickly broken as he instinctively ran ahead of the group and took a place in line. The blush was slowly dying now as a boyish playfulness returned to settle back into David's features. "Today's my treat remember? The water?" he purred, taking out his wallet. He turned to Anita & Cruz, holding up alternating fingers of 3 and 4, "How many? 3? 4? Do you want some more drinks too?" He let out a bark of a laugh when a poodle in the line waddled over and sniffed his shoes.
In that moment and probably to anyone else within the vicinity, it looked as if David had automatically propelled himself into some boyfriend-type role, buying snacks and looking quite attractive and lovable in this big sea of fluff. But no, this was it.
Unbeknownst to the Bishops, David's big brother complex had been officially activated. The man's rare idiotic charm had finally been released.
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Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 11:27 am
Cruz wasn't quite sure what to make of David, either. There was something familiar about him, like maybe they had met before, but he couldn't recall. These behaviors, though – he really didn't seem like he knew how to interact with Anita. They appeared on good terms but there was a tentativeness to everything they did or said to each other. Maybe he was more familiar with Tango than Anita, that would make sense. Even so, after their talk, the croc watched the back of David's head like a hawk.
”Oh,” Anita mumbled when David stopped them, ”yeah, okay. Thanks.” She looked over her shoulder and gave Cruz a smile and a shrug.
The frei's chin rose at David's question and he looked between them all for a proper count. One for Anita, one for David, one for Tango. ”Three,” he answered just as Anita opened her mouth, and held up his fingers to match.
Anita gave a short laugh, ”Okay, three. Then after we eat maybe we can check out those games. I think Tango's still got a lot of energy to burn, so we better do that if we want to see the show at all.” She smoothed out her hair and brushed both braids over her shoulders to rest against her back. ”What games did you say there were?”
At once, Cruz's eyes flickered to David with an uncertain quick of his brows. He tried to give David a silent cue from his expression but there was no telling if the man would understand: please treat her right.Kaurii LeFay FINALLY god I am so sorry thank you for being patient--
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2015 5:54 pm
After paying for the waters, David’s lips scrunched up into a pout as he tried to recall the day’s events. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming humidity the city had experienced lately, David specifically remembered zoning out at last staff meeting. He knew there was an agility contest, maybe even a Frisbee show but he couldn’t really think of anything else. Turning back to Anita and Cruz, David handed them their drinks while shrugging in response to Anita’s question. A sheepishly shameful smile crept onto his features, “To be quite honest, I can’t remember most of them. So, I think the only thing we could do is walk around and see?”
That’s when David felt a small flicker of cold on his nose. He blinked in confusion and looked around.
“Did you see that?” He asked, somewhat dumbfounded. And just like that, it seemed as if David’s words had carried some kind of forewarning magic as dogs immediately started to howl and burst into panicked barks soon after.
“Ah, there it is again… Oh, shiiiiiitttt” David growled as he looked up at the sky. Though the sun was still shining quite brilliantly, small clusters of angry grey clouds had started to roll in. Then, one ripple of thunder was all it took to throw some of the more anxious guests into a noisy frenzy.
“It wasn’t supposed to rain today!” the Nao exclaimed as he looked for a nearby tent to lead the Bishops to. Spotting one, David placed a hand around Anita’s shoulders and directed the group towards a nearby booth for shelter, “Let’s go over there to at least try and stay somewhat dry, ok?” The man even made a soft clicking noise with his tongue to try and get Tango’s attention.
“C’mon, before we get soaked!”
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Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2015 8:43 pm
Summer had to have been one of the most turbulent times of the year, regarding rain. Despite what most forecasts said, it somehow usually turned out to be the opposite. One time, Cruz recalled, they had called for pouring rain all day but not a drop had fallen and there wasn't even a cloud in the sky. Today was quite the opposite; warmth and sun predicted all day -- and here they were, soaked.
His parade was, quite literally, getting rained on. Cruz watched the dogs howl in dismay at the distant rumble of thunder. Their own mutt was quick to huddle at Anita's side. She didn't seem bothered by the downpour specifically, but was quick to wrap her arms around herself in effort to keep warm.
The change in temperature wasn't especially stark but the rain was something of a relief to Cruz in the wake of the beating sun -- or it would have been if it didn't send all of his plans into the gutter. Instead he floated, sopping wet, watching everyone around them rush to huddle under awnings or umbrellas. David, too, was quick to try and take charge. Cruz's brows rose desperately as the man wrapped an arm around Anita's shoulders and began guiding them to a dryer spot. The frei floated behind, eyes locked on the two human's backs, but any hope of this turning into a rain soaked romantic encounter like was often in movies was dashed before it even began. His guardian ducked from under David's reach once they were closer to the umbrella and knelt down to beckon Tango closer. The wolfhound huddled into Anita's arms, panting anxiously but otherwise staying calm amid the surrounding chaos.
Cruz could scarcely tell whether Anita was dodging a potential advance from David or if the gesture simply didn't register. When the croc joined them, he was at a loss. From their previous discussion, David certainly seemed interested but Anita appeared to be anything but. His brow creased, worriedly, until his guardian laughed and glanced up at the both of them. "Guess everyone got a bath today," she offered lightheartedly. At least, it seemed, she hadn't been put off by anything today.
Cruz chuckled and gave David an apologetic smile. Perhaps this was best left to another time, when the sky wasn't so impulsive.E N D
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